Got the Saab booked in for MOT later on today. It's got a small crack on the windscreen which was flagged as an advisory on the last MOT. The crack starts right at the base of the screen by the pillar and goes across the driver's side under the scuttle line before appearing in the "viewed through" area a few inches to the left of the steering wheel.
I mentioned it when I booked the MOT and the guy at the test centre said it sounded like a fail point to him as it's in the visible area of the screen on the driver's side.
Any opinions? Of course the tester has the final say, but it does seem to be a bit of a grey area. I'll take a photo and post when it's a bit lighter outside.
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The idea of an "advisory" is that the car has passed its MOT - Just - and you need to get the advisory fixed. Rock up to an MOT station a year later with a still outstanding advisory (yes its on record) and you can almost guarantee a fail.
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Several MoT Testers have said to me that they do not look at the history of advisories - they prefer to conduct the test properly themselves. Often advisories are a a 'matter of judgement' which is then very subjective. I suppose in the event of a serious accident if the advisories are reviewed, found to be a contributory reason, and they have disappeared from the current MoT, more questions would then get asked.
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Had mine MOTd on Wednesday, was talking to the tester, and he said he did look at advisories, specially if they were from his station last year!
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Fit a shorter wiper blade so that the crack isn't in the swept area, then get it fixed when convenient
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Might work Cliff - only swept area is considered, but I would expect a crack to be a fail, where ever it is if in swept area. You are only allowed 10mm in the drivers vision area (290mm wide, centred on steering wheel) and 40mm elsewhere.
Advisories are not generally looked at - mine has been tested at the same place 4 years in a row - same advisories come up sometimes, other times, no advisory on items that were last year!
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Picture as promised: -
tinyurl.com/ae68e4j
Looking at it in the (very!) cold light of day I think the test centre's right, it's got to be a failure. For what it's worth it's a different test centre to the last MOT, which was carried out by a Saab main dealer. It's going to a local test centre in Weston later on today. I'll post back with results.
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Those wiper blades look like a failure too!
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From the photo I think the only thing that crack is obscuring is your view of the bonnet!
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As far as it goes Ash there is no grey area in the MOT rules...
glassdoctors.co.uk/windscreen-repair/mot-windscreen-repairs/
An advisory can be very nuch down to a testers whim. I've been going to the same MOT garage for 25yrs and my tester uses an advisory to be helpful in flagging up something that may become an issue before the next MOT... or to cover himself if something is technically a pass on the day but but likely to become a fail very soon.
I could have done without him marking an advisory on the C5 MOT the week before it went back " front brake pads low".... hope the lease co don't add on another £100 for that.
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Pretty sure that's a fail...
Surely pads at 30k is fair wear and tear FL?
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Well it was actually 35k so yes not too bad. However in the lease agreement return details there were some very specific descriptions of brake condition (ie scored discs or pads in immediate need of replacement) that would attract an excess payment.
The pads passed the MOT and looked OK so I could have done without the "helpful" advisory in case it draws their attention. I should hear any day soon anyway.
Last edited by: Fenlander on Fri 25 Jan 13 at 09:52
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>> Pretty sure that's a fail...
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>> Surely pads at 30k is fair wear and tear FL?
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Mine were an advisory at the MOT to.
Pads are not fair wear and tear - they are either OK or not. I would assume that as long as the brake pad warning light hasn't come on (or they are grinding then they are OK.
I've only ever replaced pads when the warning light comes up. VW advised Mrs B to change the pads at 30K on the Sharan. We declined. it was past 40K before the light came on
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>> Fit a shorter wiper blade so that the crack isn't in the swept area, then
>> get it fixed when convenient
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Whilst that cannot be done looking at the damage, I just wonder if the blades are adjusted to park themselves above the crack?
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I've had an advisory on the front wishbone bushes on the Golf for three years. Surface cracking, but no excess movement. Just MOT'd only last week and picked up again, but still pass the lever test and no odd tyre wear or any other indicators that they are causing a problem.
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I've had an advisory on a slightly weeping shock on our Golf for two years. Actually it's just having an MoT today and the fabulous local indie has done a pre-test check for me (so as to make sure the car is ready for the end of the day - it's on the ramps as they've already done the cambelt and water pump, brake fluid and fuel filter this morning - so doing a pre-test once over so as not to risk an MoT fail at 4pm was good thinking and good service) and they've advised front brake pads will pass but are at 95% worn, and there's a driveshaft gaiter needing replacing. They haven't mentioned the shock, so I expect it'll be an advisory again. They've also offered me a reduced labour rate on the items they've found without being asked. It's going to be an expensive day, but I am confident the garage are doing a great job and they're looking after my interests. Can't recommend them highly enough.
The garage - MoT City, Winnersh. I know Focusless also has had good experiences there.
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I would consider this a pass and advise.Although the crack is partially in the wiper swept area,it is not in the drivers direct line of vision.Really depends on the testers view!!
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Doesn't vehicle structure come into play as well?
I thought modern cars relied on the strength of the windscreen?
With a crack in it, surely it's weakened.
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>>modern cars
It's not a modern car, it's a SAAB 9-5.
(kidding - I'm still half tempted to lumber myself with one.)
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ok, to elaborate then, if the car has a bonded windscreen, then it adds to the overall strenght of the car.
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>> (kidding - I'm still half tempted to lumber myself with one.)
Yes please do I would love that more than if you bought the Mondeo.
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*crosses saab off list. again.*
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I have just driven the cleaning lady's Saab out of the deep gravel on a steep slope on which she had imprudently parked it. Trying to reverse out she had spun the front wheels burying them deeply in the gravel so that the whole front end of the car was just resting on the damn stuff.
A spade, shovelling, stuffing strips of carpet under the wheels and recruiting a mixed bag of muscle to shove, including the chimney sweep who happened to be here - a solidly built, amiable character - enabled me eventually to reverse gently up and out.
Can't say I got to give the Saab a workout but it seemed, under the circumstances, quite a nice motor. I didn't register what model it was.
Were I Zero I would crow: Eat your hearts out Northerners! Even the cleaning ladies have smart Saabs down here!
Oh, and by the way: there was a small crack at the bottom of the windscreen.
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Fri 25 Jan 13 at 14:58
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Y reg Honda Accord for our cleaners. Eminently sensible. Nice dark met green, too.
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>> Y reg Honda Accord for our cleaners. Eminently sensible. Nice dark met green, too.
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My cleaning lady has a black Nissan Note 1600SE Auto.........come to think of it, so does SWMBO.
Ted
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Our cleaner drives a Lancer Estate..... So does the Chef, the gardener, the handyman,
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>> I have just driven the cleaning lady's Saab out of the deep gravel
Enlist the help of the gamekeeper, butler, gardener cook and valet in heaving the stricken beast out Squire Armel or did the estate farm managers Land Rover lend a hand too, only surprised you allowed that foreign built machine anywhere near the country seat in the first place, tut...;)
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>> Enlist the help of the gamekeeper, butler, gardener cook and valet
Alas gb, all the housemaids, ghillies and so on are on strike. Apparently they are miffed because they aren't being sexually abused or having their tied cottages sold out from under them like other people's employees. They say it's humiliating and makes them feel unattractive.
No, we had to make do with the people still asleep on the sitting room floor - a couple of High Court judges, Oliver Letwin, Brian Sewell, people like that. Damn useless they were too. They won't be invited again.
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>>The idea of an "advisory" is that ....
No, that's not how advisorys work.
They are purely advice. Each time you present a vehicle for test, the tester inspects and applies his/her judgement as appropriate. No tester who wants to keep their right to test vehicles would give anything more than passing interest to a note on file pointing back 12 months in the vehicle's life.
Most testable items are subjective rather than the result of a measurement - the obvious exceptions being headlamp aim, exhaust emissions and brake performance which are checked via test with an instrument.
It's no great surprise that advisorys aren't well understood - the purpose of the MOT itself isn't clear to too many motorists.
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Its understood by me, specially as "advisories" only relate to items tested by an MOT.
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Picked the car up earlier - it's a fail, new windscreen required. Tester suggested it shouldn't have been passed previously unless the crack has grown since the previous test. Always possible I suppose, it's done quite a few miles since I've had it on some pretty rough roads, but it doesn't seem to have enlarged significantly.
It also failed on a number plate light bulb, headlamp aim, and wiper blades (spot on Zero). Not too bad for a 12 year old car with over 160k on it. It's my third Saab, and I can recommend one Alanovich.
Looking at the paperwork that I got with the car, the previous list of advisories also includes an oil leak (from the feed pipe to the turbo, which I had done when the sump was dropped); the advisories cover items not included in the test.
I've had quotes for the screen - varying from £640 to our local National Windscreens branch who can do it for £210. Seems a lot for a screen, but needs must, and they've done a good job for me once before.
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Cheers, Ash. My MoT today threw up a broken CV gaiter as the only fail. 2002 Golf TDI, 91k miles. What with the brake pads getting done also and the cambelt&tensioners, water pump, fuel filter and brake fluid at my request, it took the bill to £700. Hey ho. Delighted with the service I received, and all items were reasonably priced. The killer being 6.75 hours at a very reasonable 48 quid per hour plus vat.
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>> I've had quotes for the screen - varying from £640 to our local National Windscreens
>> branch who can do it for £210. Seems a lot for a screen, but needs
>> must, and they've done a good job for me once before.
>>
Do you not have windscreen cover on your insurance?
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I wonder if the higher quote is from that company that saturate advertises the worlds most boring adverts, well after go compare.
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>> I wonder if the higher quote is from that company that saturate advertises the worlds
>> most boring adverts, well after go compare.
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Spot on GB.
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TPFT only unfortunately ST.
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All work done and MOT now passed. Full marks for National Windscreens - very good job, no problems at all, and they even replaced the tax disk holder. Well done too for Halfords Auto Centre - got the MOT at half price online, and while I paid for the bulbs and wipers they did the headlight aim free of charge.
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I read in the German press that SAAB have new owners "The Swedish Electric Car"or some such name and the first thing they did was change the Saab badge and have removed the blue colour,new cars expected in 2014.This may be old news but its new to me.
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For info about SAAB, see:
www.saabsunited.com/
An independent site with some access to SAAB's CHINESE owners.
They have to change the badge, since they don't own the rights.
The SAAB lettering will remain, but the gryphon will change or disappear.
Last edited by: neiltoo on Wed 30 Jan 13 at 10:40
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SAAB 9-5 - MOT Question - cracked windscreen - Zero
